"Yes, your eminence."
"Ciel! I should not have thought he would have been one for your purpose. But that is your affair," and he began to laugh.
"I have seven good swords behind me, your eminence. The chevalier may or may not do well; but I could hardly refuse his request."
D'Amboise made no answer, and our interview came to a close. I would, however, add here that nothing ever came of the burning of the inn. No complaint was ever laid, as far as I could find out, and the matter might have been an every-day occurrence, so little attention did it excite. I of course did not know that affairs had reached to such a pitch of disorder in Rome, and lived in hourly expectation, notwithstanding the cardinal's speech, of having considerable worry over the revengeful zeal of Jacopo. I took care that no such thing was likely to occur again, and Master Jacopo was penitent, swearing he would never give me further cause for annoyance. At the levée, that morning, St. Armande was, as usual, beside me, and I whispered to him to hold himself in readiness, as the time for our business was at hand.
"I am glad of that," he answered, his face lighting up.
"I attend the cardinal to-day to the Vatican," I said, by way of continuing the conversation.
"There will be much going on this evening," he made reply. "The Florentine envoy has been here for the past two days, and the affair at the Vatican to-night is in his honour. Do you know that you have excited great curiosity in the hearts of the court ladies?"
"Indeed? It is not my way."
"Is it not? Well, Lucrezia expressed a particular desire to see you."
"I trust it may not lead to the Tiber, chevalier. The attentions of the Lady Lucrezia are a trifle dangerous."